To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact on rural areas of the implementation of the Private Water Suppliers (England) Regulations 2008 to (a) households and (b) businesses; and if he will make a statement. (234046)

Private water suppliers are predominantly located in rural areas and the impact on both households and businesses is set out in the impact assessment which was published in August as part of the consultation on the new regulations. No new monitoring requirements are proposed to the majority of private water supplies (approximately 60 per cent.) that are for domestic use within single private premises.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how he plans to ensure that the implementation of the Private Water Suppliers (England) Regulations 2008 and his proposed amendment to them apply uniformly to rural and urban areas. (234047)

The proposed regulations will apply uniformly to rural and urban areas across England, however private supplies are predominantly located in rural areas. An impact assessment was published in August as part of the consultation on the new regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what responses he has received to his recent consultation on the Private Water Supplies (England) Regulations 2008. (234048)

To date 100, representations to the consultation have been received. DEFRA will consider the responses and publish the Government response by spring 2009.